Don't play politics with investment decisions -1=15=12

By GARY MASSINGILL

Published 9:54 am, Friday, January 13, 2012

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While the election season heats up, you will hear more and more promises, claims and counter-claims from the candidates. As a citizen, you may or may not enjoy this "political theater," but as an investor you might be concerned over all the talk about taxes, Social Security, Medicare and other financial topics. Will you need to adjust your savings and investment strategies? If so, how?

Before you think about adjusting your investment strategy in anticipation of any actions coming from Washington, keep a couple of facts in mind. First, few campaign promises become reality. And second, due to our system of government, radical shifts in direction are difficult to implement - which is why so few of them occur.

Still, we may see some smaller-scale - yet not insignificant - changes in the near future. In light of this possibility, what investment decisions should you make? Here are a few suggestions:

Consider owning investments that are taxed in different ways. No one can predict what will happen with income tax rates or the tax rates that are applied to capital gains and dividends. Consequently, it may be a good idea to seek "tax diversification" by owning investments that are taxed in different ways. For example, when you sell appreciated stocks, you pay capital gains taxes, whereas interest payments from bonds will be taxed at your individual tax rate. And it's always a good idea to take advantage of tax-advantaged vehicles, such as an IRA and your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan.

Stick with quality. It's a good idea, when owning stocks, to invest in quality companies with diversified businesses. These companies are usually less dependent on a particular government program, and they typically have a global reach, so they may be better able to handle any changes implemented in Washington.

Stay focused on your long-term goals. Politicians come and go, and our political parties seem to take turns holding the reins of power. Yet your long-term goals - such as college for your children, a comfortable retirement and the ability to leave a legacy to your family - don't really change. By realizing that you are largely responsible for achieving your goals, and by following an investment strategy that's suitable for your individual risk tolerance and time horizon, you can make gradual, but still meaningful, progress toward those goals - no matter what's happening in Washington.

Review your strategy regularly. With the possible approach of changes in tax policies and in government programs that can affect your retirement security, you'll want to review your investment strategy regularly to make sure it's still on track toward helping you meet your objectives. As part of this review, you may want to seek out more "tax-smart" investment opportunities, while always looking for ways to supply the asset growth you'll need to enjoy the retirement lifestyle you've envisioned.

Aside from voting for the candidates who best represent your interests, you may not have much influence over what goes on in Washington. But by "electing" the right moves to help meet your goals, you can have plenty of control over your investment strategy.